Alcohol Marketing and Youth

At the request of Congress, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
carefully investigated the possible impact on underage persons of
alcohol advertising and marketing of flavored malt beverages (FMBs).
Flavored malt beverages are sometimes referred to as “alcopops”
by alcohol activists.

The FTC investigation included examining internal company documents
on FMB marketing plans, advertisement placement strategies, age
composition data of FMB ad audiences, and actual ad placements in
the media, in addition to conducting an empirical investigation
of product placement in retail outlets across the country.

In its own words, “the Commission investigation of flavored
malt beverages (FMBs) indicates that adults appear to be the intended
target of FMB marketing, and that the products have established
a niche in the adult market. The investigation found no evidence
of targeting underage consumers in the FMB market.”

The Commission also noted that teen drinking continued to decline
during the period when these beverages were being aggressively marketed.